The News & Observer Names Custom Patch Hats a Winner of the Raleigh-Durham Top Workplaces 2026 Award
Raleigh-based custom headwear and apparel company also secures national honors for Purpose & Values and Manufacturing Excellence.
RALEIGH, N.C. — September 20, 2026 — Custom Patch Hats (CPH) has been awarded a Top Workplaces 2026 honor by The News & Observer. The award is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage LLC. The confidential survey measures key aspects of the employee experience, including feeling respected, supported, enabled to grow, and empowered to execute. Custom Patch Hats is one of three organizations with 1–149 employees in the Raleigh-Durham area recognized with this year’s award.
Custom Patch Hats pairs real human design experts with high-quality custom hats and branded apparel to take the guesswork out of custom ordering. The Top Workplaces recognition highlights CPH’s commitment to building an internal culture rooted in the same accountability and care it delivers to clients. In addition to the regional honor, CPH received two national 2026 Top Workplaces awards: a Culture Excellence Award for Purpose & Values and an Industry Award in Manufacturing.
Founded in 2018 by Brian Cox and Scott Alexander, the Raleigh-based company has prioritized a people-first workplace since day one. “When we started CPH, we wanted to build a place where people felt backed up, respected, and genuinely excited to walk through the door,” said Scott Alexander, Co-Founder of Custom Patch Hats. “Every day, our team comes in ready to help people create gear that brings their crews together. Honestly, they’re the ones making it happen. This award is entirely theirs, and Brian and I couldn’t ask for a better team right here in Raleigh.”
“Earning a Top Workplaces award is a badge of honor for companies, especially because it comes authentically from their employees,” said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. “That’s something to be proud of. In today’s market, leaders must ensure they’re allowing employees to have a voice and be heard. That’s paramount. Top Workplaces do this, and it pays dividends.”
Company Contact
Amy Hoppe
Brand and Product Development Manager
[email protected]
919-424-7723 ex. 530
About Custom Patch Hats
Headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., Custom Patch Hats (CPH) pairs real human design experts with high-quality custom headwear and apparel. Built on a commitment to hands-on craftsmanship and total accountability, CPH helps organizations build custom gear that brings crews together. Demonstrating rapid expansion alongside its workplace culture, CPH ranked No. 140 on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in America. To learn more, visit www.custompatchhats.com.
About Energage
Making the world a better place to work together.™
Energage is a purpose-driven company that helps organizations turn employee feedback into useful business intelligence and credible employer recognition through Top Workplaces. Built on 20 years of culture research and the results from 30 million employees surveyed across more than 80,000 organizations, Energage delivers the most accurate competitive benchmark available. With access to a unique combination of patented analytic tools and expert guidance, Energage customers lead the competition with an engaged workforce and an opportunity to gain recognition for their people-first approach to culture. For more information or to nominate your organization, visit energage.com or topworkplaces.com.
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